Page 28 of Devil's Vengeance

“Will he let you leave?”

The way he said that, like he expected the answer was no, made me nervous. “I didn’t ask. But… his crew is here. I kind of had the gut feeling they wouldn’t even if he did.”

He cursed under his breath, and the phone was muffled for a second when he spoke. “VP. Mariah’s in trouble. I need to leave. Can you–”

“Go. I’ll handle the drop,” Nevada said gruffly in the background. He didn’t even hesitate. Just another reason why I felt safer with the Devil’s Disciples. Which was just insane to think about. The most dangerous motorcycle gang in the state was my safety net in dangerous situations.

I heard Chase’s hurried footsteps as he jogged away, getting louder as he put his phone back to his ear. “Mariah? Where are you right now?”

“Bathroom. I didn’t want to call you in front of them.”

“No. Don’t let them know I’m coming. Just act natural, and when you can, slip out the back. I’m not far from the city. I’ll be there soon.”

I didn't want to hang up. I felt safer with him on the phone with me.But I didn't have a choice. He couldn’t talk and ride, and I couldn’t hide in here forever. Trick would ask questions eventually. Maybe. I got the feeling my continued refusal to give him what he wanted was pissing him off. But his crew might come looking for me. It was better to stick close to the devil I knew.

“Mariah?”

“Yeah. I’ll pretend until I can get away. I’m sending you my location now.”

“It’ll be okay, Mariah. I’m on my way.” His attempt at reassuring me made my throat feel tight. He sounded a lot more like the guy I met that first night, and I wished it had been that guy who’d asked me on a date instead. I had the worst luck with dating.

After hanging up, I sent him my location and tucked my phone away. I considered slipping out right away, but there was a couple fucking against the back door and I couldn’t see any other way out. I forced myself to return to the table, coming up short when I realized what was happening.

“Seriously?”

One of the scantily clad women was cuddled against Trick’s side and his hand was up her skirt. She moaned and writhed, not even looking at me when I spoke. When I shot an incredulous look at Trick, he flashed me that slimy grin again.

“Relax, babe. There’s plenty of me to go around. Why don’t you sit down on my other side. Cherry here doesn’t mind sharing.”

Disgust curled my lip, and I stepped back. “Cherry can have you. I’m not that kind of girl.”

Trick shrugged, shifting the woman into his lap and wrestling with his jeans. He was going to fuck her right in front of me. He obviously didn’t give a shit about me. I hated that Chase and Regina were right.

I wasn’t willing to stand around watching him disrespect me like that.

“Excuse me while I go throw up,” I snapped, storming back towards the bathrooms again. I heard Trick cackle with his buddies, but no one followed me, and when I got to the hallway again, the couple had finished and was gone. I went straight out the back door, pausing only long enough to peek out and make sure I wasn’t jumping out of the pot and straight into the fire. The parking lot behind the bar was full of bikes, but empty ofpeople. I slipped out the back door and let it close quietly behind me. I wasn’t sure if Chase was coming for me back here or around the front, but I wasn’t waiting around to find out. My location tracker was still on. He’d find me.

Except, the back of the bar butted up against an alley that was fenced along the other side. I’d either have to follow that alley and remain out in the open, or head around the front to find some place to duck into and hide until Chase got here.

I didn’t have a chance to decide. I got maybe fifteen feet from the door before a hand grabbed my elbow to stop me.

“Where do you think you’re goin’?” a gruff and unfamiliar voice demanded.

Using a move Lacey taught me, I swung my arm out and around, breaking the man’s hold on me. Putting more distance between us, I spun around to face him. He was one of the guys who had been sitting at Trick’s table. I saw him eyeing me more than once, but assumed he’d leave me alone since I was with Trick. Apparently not.

“I’m going home,” I said, putting steel in my voice so he knew he couldn’t push me around.

He huffed out a laugh. “Like hell you are. You came to our club. You ain’t leavin’ until we’re satisfied. Starting right now. If you get on your knees, I won’t tell Trick I found you sneaking out.”

There wasn’t a chance in hell that was happening. I let a man get the upper hand over me once. I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

CHAPTER 18

CHASE

I fucking knew the date would go to shit. Trick wasn’t enough of a man to take a woman out on a real date. He probably thought since Mariah was a librarian, she’d be too timid to argue with him. After a few weeks, I knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t take shit from him. Unfortunately, he didn't show his true colors until he had her well and truly trapped. She was probably right. Even if Trick didn’t give a shit if she left, his crew might take issue with it. Not all crews let women have a damn choice.

Fuck. I should’ve forced her to stay away from him.

---